Crossing [Hardcover]

Gary Paulsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1987

Thirteen-year-old Manny, a street kid fighting for survival in a Mexican border town, develops a strange friendship with an emotionally disturbed American soldier who decides to help him get across the border.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Paulsen's latest novel is as ugly as a bad dream. Unfortunately, it's not a dream, but a potent expression of the brutal realities of a bridge that joins the golden highways of "el norte" (the U.S.) and the mud streets of neighboring Mexico. Young Manny wants to cross the bridge to the land of dreams and opportunity. Sargeant Locke, in turn, crosses the border from Fort Bliss, Tex., for a night in Juarez. There he drinks himself into a "brain dead" state to keep the ghosts of departed friends from coming to visit. Somewhere between misery and ugliness these two meet; both of them, on the periphery of normal living, are joined in a fateful, violent act that provides one with life and hope, and the other the chance to give, without giving up. Paulsen overburdens young readers with the harsh facts of a grown-up's perspective. But any work by such a proficient writer, who invokes a powerful sense of the tragic in readers young and old, is welcomewelcome indeed. A Richard Jackson Book. Ages 11-13.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-12 Manny is a small Mexican street boy in Juarez, an orphan who survives by using his wits and his speed against other desperate boys, against the evil street men who would kill or sell him, against starvation and death. Manny has only one chance to survive, and that means crossing the river into the United States, an incredibly dangerous undertaking for a small boy alone. Robert is a sergeant in the Army. His whole life consists of being a good officer during the day and surviving his haunted nights by drinking himself into oblivion. Robert is haunted by dead friends, gruesomely killed in war. Manny and Robert meet when the sergeant is being sick behind a bar and Manny tries to lift his wallet. Manny doesn't succeed, but this is the beginning of a relationship, brief and brutal, which leads to the sergeant's death and Manny's chance for survival. (Readers may question what language is being spoken, as it is made clear that Robert speaks no Spanish and Manny knows only enough English to hold a ``limited conversation.'' However, it shouldn't matter, as the two have little verbal communication.) Paulsen creates a stark, moving portrait of Mexican poverty and street life, of the desperation facing those who attempt ``the crossing.'' Like the relationship between Robert and Manny, this book is brief and brutal but ends on a note of hope. The short length and simple writing style should give this book special appeal for high-school students who are reluctant readers. Rosie Peasley, Sylvan Union Sch . Dist . , Modesto, Calif.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531057097
• ISBN-13: 978-0531057094
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,316,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Crossing is a great book. Gary Paulsen astonished me!, March 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

The Crossing was about an orphan named Manuel Bustos. Manny was his nickname. He was a poor Mexican boy. Manny lived on the streets and slept in a cardboard box. He had no time for heroes. He needed to scrap, fight boys bigger than him for money. The two most important things to Manny were to survive and to find a way to get across the border. As part of Manny's daily routine, he would go to the bridge by the Rio Grande and watch the " turistas," tourists throw coins to him and the rest of the beggers. When Manny catches money he has to run fast before the bigger boys try to beat him up and steal his money. One day when Manny was being chased by the bigger boys he went into an alley behind a club called "Club Congo Tiki." Manny out ran them and hid in the alley. When Manny was in the alley a drunk man named Sergeant Robert S. Locke went into the alley and started vomiting. He had to much to drink. Manny slowly tried to reach for the Sergeants wallet. Manny was taking advantage of the weak and drunk Sergeant. Manny stole the wallet and started running with it. Robert chased after him. At one point Robert caught up to him and grabbed Manny on the arm. Then a police officer was walking by and he saw Robert holding Manny tightly. The officer said, " What's going on here?" Robert was a little spaced out but he remembered seeing Manny on the streets. Robert replied as, " Nothing officer." The officer left and Manny thanked Robert. Robert then got his wallet back. That was the beginning of Robert and Manny's friendship. Robert and Manny became close friends. Robert let Manny follow him around, eat with him, and be his friend. Both Robert and Manny needed each other as friends. Manny had no one to pay for him or to talk to. Robert was a dried up, drunk, shy, and lonely person.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced and exciting read., October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

Settings and characterizations are realistic and many readers will be able to identify with them.I have been searching for a novel for adult intermediate level ESL (English as a Second Language) students to read in less than four weeks. This fills the bill perfectly.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars R S H, April 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Crossing (Paperback)

I think "The Crossing" is a good book because it shows you how some people struggle to surrvive.My favorite part of the book was at the end but i wont tell you ill let you read it for yourself. :)

i think its interesting how Robert controls his friends and how he controls his drinkin;Him trying to keep his comrads out of his mind.i like the way he acts because he's really serious when "The Man In The Mirror" appears, but then when hes not there he acts kinder.